I regularly go to my tea pub, Happy Lucky’s Tea House, to chat with the staff, customers and share information about tea. Everyone who works at the shop is very educated about tea and they care about their customers!
Usually, I enter the shop, sit at the bar and ask “Hey, what’s new?” Other times I pick some tea from the ‘tea wall’ that I’ve never tried before. I bring tea samples from my cupboard for these special people to share as a sign of friendship now and then. It’s really a cool place!

Today, I started asking questions about Jasmine Tea’s and Silver Needle. Since the new Jasmine Silver Needle was not in stock yet, I was shown the China Green Jasmine Pearls…and the scent was captivating. I decided to try the tea…my first Jasmine Pearls ever.

Sam prepared a glass pot with the pearls and at 3 minutes poured the golden liquor into my glass teacup.
The cup was very fragrant with Jasmine. I commented to Andy that there was a scent of new rubber ducky in the floral scent. “Huh?”, he said.
He poured himself a little and agreed…“Yep, I can see how you would say that.” (How do we come up with these things I wondered! Rubber Ducky?!)
I drank some more…the tea was strong and as it cooled…strong and astringent. I commented to Andy and Sam that it was not to my liking as much as Jasmine Silver Needle Tea.
Andy said he liked the pearls at a 2 minute steep instead of 3 minutes so he brought out a Gaiwan and steeped pearls at 2 minutes for me. (I never asked for this attention to detail…it’s just how considerate these tea professionals are)
Now the tea was very pale. The flavor was much more delicate and not astringent. Oh, I really preferred the 2 minute steeping so much more!
It would have been such a shame to miss out on this tea and probably never drink it again just because I had tasted it at a stronger, more concentrated steeping than I like. Sam prefers 3 minutes. Someone else might like it at 3 minutes. I prefer 2 minute steeping.

The tea was juicy and delicious.

This was a good lesson. If a tea is a little meh. Steep it longer, or shorter. Check the temperature. Give the tea a chance to speak to you.
Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find your comfort level.

I’m a fortunate person to have such a great tea shop to go to. (The owner is a great guy too and all the other tea experts that serve there!) Thanks Happy Luckys!

I finally learned not too long ago that less is more when I am brewing – I used to really put too much tea in to steep, and I know the leaves could not stretch out and brew nicely when I did that. I really should start setting a timer when I brew, as I tend to do the dishes or other tasks while I wait, and end up steeping longer than I’d like.

I love the line, “give it a chance to speak to you.” I truly believe that all tea has a certain energy, and when it is personified like this, it really becomes a relationship-building process. You get to know your tea. The more you get to know it, caress it, care for it, and let it be free, the more it will give you.

If you liked this tea, you should try Seven Cups’ Silver Dragon Pearls. It was actually made from tea of the Da Bai Hao (big white bush), which is what “true” silver needle tea comes from. You might also want to try Teavana’s Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls, which sounds very similar to what you just described.

I am super enthralled with the silver Yabao Pu’er from verdant and Jasmine Silver Needle which I find cooling and fresh. The regular Jasmine Pearls have to bee very lightly steeped or it’s cloying to my taste. Do try the new Laoshan White if you can!

I finally learned not too long ago that less is more when I am brewing – I used to really put too much tea in to steep, and I know the leaves could not stretch out and brew nicely when I did that. I really should start setting a timer when I brew, as I tend to do the dishes or other tasks while I wait, and end up steeping longer than I’d like.

I love the line, “give it a chance to speak to you.” I truly believe that all tea has a certain energy, and when it is personified like this, it really becomes a relationship-building process. You get to know your tea. The more you get to know it, caress it, care for it, and let it be free, the more it will give you.

If you liked this tea, you should try Seven Cups’ Silver Dragon Pearls. It was actually made from tea of the Da Bai Hao (big white bush), which is what “true” silver needle tea comes from. You might also want to try Teavana’s Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls, which sounds very similar to what you just described.

I am super enthralled with the silver Yabao Pu’er from verdant and Jasmine Silver Needle which I find cooling and fresh. The regular Jasmine Pearls have to bee very lightly steeped or it’s cloying to my taste. Do try the new Laoshan White if you can!

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Bio

Colorado Grandma

Grandmother to 3 teenaged girls and 5 young boys. (we all drink tea!) I began teatime in the Summer over 30 years ago when my children were little. We took a break from play for tea and snacks every day. My children loved tea time.
There are several tea houses close to my home and a Tea Festival in Boulder. Fort Collins is a bit of a foodie town. We brew lots of Beer (Fat Tire is one brand) and have several Spice Shops (Savory was one featured on Food Network).
Colorado State University is a mile from my home and the Rocky Mountains begin to climb at the end of my street. The climate is semi-arid with LOTS OF SUN AT 5000 feet. (Heavy Winter snows start in higher elevations). Living my whole life in Northern California (Silicon Valley) I have to admit that I LOVE IT HERE!!!
I attend a wonderful Greek Orthodox Church and enjoy cooking ethnic foods (all kinds). I am disabled with Migraines and Fibromyalgia.
My family is Bi-racial (African-American, Scots) and Bi-cultural, (Peru, Cyprus, France, Mexico, Native American)
I’ve worked at a Winery, was a System Analyst, in telecom, been an Athlete and Coach, Artist, Vista Volunteer. Love healthy cooking (and delicious food!). Love to travel and have been to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Malta, Peru, Croatia, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska